Histopathological Spectrum of Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Biopsies- Observational Study
1 Dr. Rachana Binayke; 2 Dr. Arva Ali Pirosha; 3 Dr. Krishna Govind; 4 Dr. Sushma RamrajeBroadly, the entire gastrointestinal tract can be divided into upper and lower segments by taking the insertion of ligament of Treitz which is the suspensory ligament of duodenum as a landmark. The disorders of Lower Gastrointestinal Tract (LGIT) are responsible for a great number of morbidities more than mortality. The microscopic analysis and the determination of histological types are thus helpful in deciding treatment options, predicting prognosis and conducting epidemiological studies and research. Delay in diagnosis causes direct as well as distant metastasis leading to advanced stage of the disease. The GIT is a common site for numerous pathological processes from non-neoplastic, preneoplastic to neoplastic. Gastrointestinal tumours constitute one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and include both benign and malignant tumours. They continue to be the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the developed world. The early detection and treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasms has been shown to improve patient’s survival significantly [1]. More common lesions from biopsies of LGIT are infection, inflammation, toxic and physical trauma, vascular disorders etc. Various polyps in GIT are hyperplastic, inflammatory, adenomatous and carcinomatous polyps. Biopsies can give the diagnosis without major surgical resection as it helps to reach at inaccessible sites of lesions. Biopsies are also used to monitor the course of the disease, extent of the disease, to detect complications and to assess the response to therapy. Hence, they are considered gold standard investigation for GI lesions [2]. Intestinal lesions are common complaints of all ages, benign lesions being commoner in early ages while malignant lesions being commoner in advancing age. Over 75% of intestinal lesions are benign in nature [3].